Internal robot-manipulator for unmanned operation and maintenance in withdrawable circuit breakers, and a method of operating the robot-manipulator

Abstract

An indoor switchgear or controlgear arrangement with unmanned operation and maintenance, for use in low, medium, or high voltage, includes: an arrangement of switching devices in an inner housing, which is furthermore provided with an outer housing; and a robot system, acting mainly in the inner housing. At least the switching devices other than maintenance critical parts are withdrawable. The switchgear or controlgear is provided with interlocks in order to prevent a wrong sequence of operation and prevent access to potentially hazardeous compartments. Metallic segregation is provided internally in the inner housing in order to achieve a needed service continuty level.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An indoor switchgear or controlgear arrangement with unmanned operation and maintenance, for use in low, medium, or high voltage, comprising:
 an arrangement of switching devices in an inner housing, which is furthermore provided with an outer housing; and 
 a robot system, acting mainly in the inner housing, 
 wherein at least the switching devices other than maintenance critical parts are withdrawable by the robot system from the indoor switchgear or the controlgear arrangement, 
 wherein the switchgear or the controlgear is provided with interlocks in order to prevent a wrong sequence of operation and prevent access to potentially hazardeous compartments, the interlocks preventing entry into the inner housing when the switching devices are energized, and 
 wherein metallic segregation is provided internally in the inner housing in order to achieve a needed service continuty level. 
 
     
     
       2. A method for operating an indoor switchgear or controlgear arrangement with unmanned operation and maintenance, for use in low, medium, or high voltage, comprises:
 providing an arrangement of switching devices in an inner housing, which is furthermore provided with an outer housing; and 
 providing a robot system, acting mainly in the inner housing, such that at least the switching devices other than maintenance critical parts are withdrawable by the robot system from the indoor switchgear or the controlgear arrangement, 
 wherein the switchgear or the controlgear is provided with interlocks in order to generate “allowed” sequences of actions successivley, prevent a wrong sequence of operation, and prevent access to potentially hazardeous compartments, the interlocks preventing entry into the inner housing when the switching devices are energized, and 
 wherein metallic segregation is internally provided in the inner housing in order to achieve a needed service continuty level. 
 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the segregation of the inner housing follows required partition classes. 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 2 , wherein an appropriate outer enclosure for the outer housing ensures required internal arc classification.